Improvement in rice-polishing machines



H. B. STEVENS. Rice Polishing-Machines.

' N0.154,924 Patented8ept .8,l874.

Y 4 w y THE GRAPHIC CO FHOTO-LITH.39& 4X PARK FLACE,N.Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HENRY B. srEvENsoE BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGEL.

SQUIER, or SAME PLACE. 4

IMPROVEMENT IN RICE- POLISHING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,924, datedSeptember 8, 1874; application filed March 21, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. STEVENS, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain Improvementsin Rice- Polishing Machines, of which the following is a specificationz'p After rice has been hulled there is athin skin left enveloping thegrain. This skin is sometimes of a brownish-white or yellowish color,and sometimes red, especially in volunteer rice. This skin is the mostnutritive portion of the rice, and when the rice is to be immediatelyconsumed there is no necessity for its removal; but this skin soonbecomes moldyifthe rice is stored in this condition for any considerabletime, and in preparing the rice for market it is necessary toremove thisskin. The usual and most approved method of accomplishing this is bymeans of avertical cylinder or drum covered with strips of sheepskin,said strips being alternately with and without the wool. The said drumruns at a high speed in a wire-cloth case. The rice is fed in at thetop, and the centrifugal motion carries it with considerable forceagainst the wire-cloth, and the strips of sheep-skin wipe it and pressit against the wire-cloth, so that when it finally reaches the deliveryat the bottom the enveloping-skin is worn and rubbed 01f, and the riceready for the market.

My machine is designed as an improvement upon this kind of machine.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of myimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a cross-section in line a: 00, Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a top-plan view, and Fig. 4 an end elevation, of the apparatus.

Like letters designate like parts in each of the figures.

The frame or case of the machine is rectangular in shape, and composedof an upper and lower half, AA, constructed so as to fit closely oneupon the other. B represents the horizontal drum-shaft, arrangedlongitudinally in the plane of contact of the two frame portions, A A,and supported in suitable bearings b b in the end pieces of said frame.Motion is transmitted to the shaft B by means of a pulley, c, or ahand-crank, or in any other suitable manner. 'D represents the conicalbody of the drum, secured to the shaft B, so as to be lengthwiseadjustable thereon, by means of a bolt, 01, passing through a hub, e,secured to the end of the drum D, and engaging with one of a series ofholes provided in the shaft B, or in any other suitable manner. Erepresents the longitudinal strips of sheep-skin, secured in the usualmanner to the surface of the drum D, but so as to overlap one another,as

shown in Fig. 2. f represents the wool left on I the inner side of thestrips E, and extending from the smaller end of the drum D to aboutone-third or one-half of the length thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1. Gis the cone of wire-cloth, in which the drum D is arranged. It isconstructed in two halves, secured, respectively, to the two frameportions A and A, in such manner that, when thetwo latterarebroughttogether, the two halves of the cone G will match and inclosethe drum D. Each half of the wire-cloth cone is secured with its ends toa board, H, cut out in semicircular shape, and attached to the end boardof the respective frame portions A A, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thecone G is furthermore attached to longitudinal strips g, arrangedlengthwise on the outer surface of the cone between the end pieces ofeach frame portion, in order to keep it in shape. The sides orlongitudinal edges of each half of the wire-cloth case G are lapped overthe edge of the wooden frame or case portion, and secured. thereto, asindicated in Fig. 2. I is the feed-hopper, secured to the upper portion,A, of the frame over'the small end of the wire-cloth cone, with which itcommunicates by a passage, 'i, opened and closed by a suitableslide-valve, j. It represents the discharge-openin g arranged in theopposite end piece of the lower half A of the frame at the lowest pointof the cone Gr. L are metallic sockets or sleeves, of conical shape,arranged at the corners of the frame for the reception of theupwardly-tapering ends of the legs M, upon which the machine issupported. Each socket L is formed with two fastening wings or leaves,1, arranged at right angles to each other, and secured to the corner ofthe lower half A of the frame in such manner that said'wings'project ashort distance above the upper edge of said frame portion, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4. These corner-pieces form not only a firm connection vof the sockets L with the frame A, and serve to hold the latter morefirmly together, but

also, by their projecting portions,,form a guide e are held together byhooks m, or equivalent The drum D being rapidly rotated, the hulletd frice to be polished is gradually fed from the hopper I into the interiorof the wire-cloth case G, between the drum and wire case, where it isproperly polished by the action of the strips of sheep-skin andwire-cloth case, while the centrifugal action of the machine, inconnection with the frusta-cone shape of the scouringsurfaces, propel ittoward the opposite end, at which the discharge opening is arranged. The

drum and inclosing wire-cloth case being arranged horizontally, themachine is better adapted to be driven by hand or animal power than whenarranged in a vertical position, and the rice is prevented from fallingto the bottom or large end of the wire-cloth case during the frequentstoppages of the machine before being properly polished, as it will in avertical machine hereinbefore alluded to. The rapidity of the passage ofthe grain through the machine can be further regulated by tipping orinclining the machine in either direction, as required, whereby a properand even feed is insured.

The wire-cloth case being conical in shape, and somewhat larger than thedrum D, the

latter is enabled, by the means hereinbefore described, to be adjustedtoward the smaller end of thewir-cloth case for the purpose ofcompensating for any wear of the strips of sheep-skin E covering thedrum, and being maintained at any given adjustment with reference to thewire-cloth cone G, so that the space, and consequently the friction ofthe kernels between the cone G and drum D, is regulated. The latter are,contrary to the ordinary practice, provided with wool only for a shortdistance from the smaller endof the drum for the reason that the mainofiice of the wool is .to prevent the kernels of rice from gettingbetween the different strips of sheep-skin at the feed-end of the drum,and thus pass through the machine without coming in contact with thewire-cloth cone. This purpose is fully attained by leaving the wool onthe strips E for a short distance from the small end of the drum, while,by dispensing with the wool for the rest of the length thereof, acheapenin g in the construction of the machine is effected, and aconsiderable amount of friction done away with.

The frame or stationary case of the machine being constructed in twosections, A A, as well as the cone of wire-cloth G, the machine isreadily taken apart, and the drum and connecting parts rendered easilyaccessible.

' What I claim as my invention is- The combination, with the wire-clothcase G, arranged horizontally, of the polishingdrum D E f, constructedwith overlapping strips, and adjustable on the carrying-shaft, so thatany given relation between the drum and cone may be maintained,substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

HENRY B. STEVENS.

. lV-itnesses: J. J. BONNER,

ERNST HoDmcK.

